She knew Bessie was somewhere in the theater picking up hers and Archie’s costumes and she would be finished soon enough. It was late afternoon, and she settled onto the sofa, closing her eyes. She would rest until it was time to go.
The sound of voices outside her dressing room door woke her. Ruby stretched and yawned but didn’t think anything about them. When the conversation continued, she listened absently, thinking perhaps Bessie was outside talking to someone.
“I’m tired of all the attention she gets. Why? Because she is pretty and can sing passably?” Ruby sat up as she immediately recognized Zeta’s accented voice.
“Well—”
“And because she’s King’s mistress,” Zeta spat out.
“Perhaps.” Ruby recognized Lou’s calm voice.
“Perhaps? Of course she has spread her legs for him. He finances this entire tour to Europe on nothing? I don’t think so,” Zeta said spitefully.
“It’s possible.”
“And now that he’s killed his wife—”
“Zeta! Be quiet!” Lou demanded. “We don’t know that!”
“The New York Post said so! I believe them. What rich man wants to be tied to a dying wife? And now Miss Peasant is situated to be the next Mrs. Parker!”
“Zeta!” he hissed.
The voices moved away, but Ruby remained sitting upright on the sofa. She felt faint. Was it true? It couldn’t be true! Had King killed his wife? She felt light-headed. No. He would never kill his wife. It wasn’t possible.
But then she thought of Zeta’s hateful words and the truth in them. Yes. What rich, powerful man would want to be tied to a sickly wife? Very few. Even if King had loved Caroline, she had provided no heirs, so that had been denied him.
She was suddenly frightened of him. She would have to spend five days on board ship with him, but thankfully Ford and the other performers would be there as well. She felt the sensation of being trapped. King had financed the tour, and she was indebted to him. Not only for herself, but for everyone in the tour. She would do what she must. Bide her time and wait.
The Oceanic ocean liner was part of the White Star Line and would take them from New York to Liverpool. At the time of its launching, it was the largest ship in the world.
Ruby had never before been on board a ship and was fascinated by it all. She knew that the Vadas sisters and several other performers were sharing rooms with each other, but for some reason, she had a first-class room all to herself. Zeta and Bessie also had single rooms while King had a suite that he had insisted upon.
She watched as Max walked by carrying a small suitcase, followed by Vern making a fuss about his room arrangements.
“I don’t intend to spend the next five days listening to you snore,” he told Max sharply.
Bessie smiled and nudged Ruby as they stood together at the ship’s rail.
“I heard that Vern was supposed to be in his own room, but instead he’s rooming with Max. He’s livid!”
Ruby smiled as the cool breeze hit her face. She was happy to have a room to herself. She would spend the next five days trying her best to avoid King and getting herself mentally ready to take on London. She glanced across at the ramp and saw several people walking onto the ship, including Ford.
He looked terribly handsome in a gray-striped suit and hat with a suitcase in one hand. He caught her looking at him and smiled as he continued on his way. Ruby felt her heart catch as she watched him disappear. Even now, after all these years, she still adored him. He had captured her heart long ago without even trying.
“Zeta, you, and I all have our own rooms. I wonder why? We will room together in London, so why not now?” Ruby asked as she looked out over the pier with everyone still milling about.
“I don’t know, and I don’t care. I intend to enjoy every minute aboard ship and think about absolutely nothing.”
“Easy for you to say. You won’t spend your days hiding from King,” Ruby complained.
“But he’s in mourning! He won’t come near you,” Bessie said. “And what with the papers and their foul gossip? He definitely will not be making any advances now.”
“Maybe.”
“You’ve heard about the gossip?” Bessie lowered her voice.
Ruby nodded. “About his wife’s death?”
“Yes,” Bessie confirmed. “That he may have had something to do with her death.”
“It can’t be true. It’s just as you say. Gossip. He wouldn’t harm his reputation by hurting her, and he wouldn’t kill his own wife.”
“Unless he really wanted her gone and divorce was not an option.”
“Don’t say that Bessie! You make it seem as if I was his motive!” Ruby was alarmed.
“I didn’t mean that. You’ll be fine. It will be okay,” Bessie said as they both looked out over the pier as people waved good-bye to their loved ones.
“I do hope so, Bess.”
That night at dinner, everyone dressed in evening clothes for their meal of barley broth, beef steak, oyster pie, roast pork, and boiled potatoes, followed by apple tart and coffee for dessert.
The dining saloon was situated on the upper deck and extended the full width of the ship, seventy-five feet. It could seat over three hundred people beneath its domed skylight with stained glass in the center of the saloon. The ceiling was white and gold, and the walls were paneled with elaborate figures, carvings, and moldings. Ruby had to stop herself from staring all around her like the country bumpkin Zeta always called her.
She discovered that the ship had a first-class library and smoking room, which they could retire to after dinner, and she wanted badly to explore the ship. She noticed Ford at another table with Blanka Vadas drooling over him, but she didn’t see King at all. She wondered if he might be dining alone in his room.
She excused herself from the table and went out on deck. It was a cool, clear night, and she felt the slight breeze as the ship moved through the Atlantic. She closed her eyes and thought in excitement of what was soon to come. She would be in London performing her three songs before the British people.
“You make quite a pretty picture standing here at the rail,” Ford said as he joined her.
As she turned, the wind ruffled her hair, and she tucked a lock behind her ear. She hadn’t seen him since their last encounter, and she thought suddenly of his mouth on hers and the rush of desire that moved through her.
“Are you excited to be going to London?” she asked.
“I’ve been before. This trip, my only concern is watching over you.”
“Do I need to be watched over?”
“No. In fact, I don’t think I know a more capable woman. Perhaps I should rephrase and say I want to keep an eye on King for you,” he said.
Ruby’s smiled faltered, and she nodded. “Yes. You are the one reason I could move forward, knowing that you would be here as well.”
Ford touched her bare arm. It was cool to the touch. “Has something happened, Ruby?”
“No. Just that he’s made his intentions clear.”
“His intentions?” Ford felt an intense surge of jealousy at the thought of King with Ruby.
“He wants to marry me.”
Ford said nothing.
“Of course I won’t. But I’m worried. After all the money he has spent on the tour, I feel obligated to—”
“You feel obligated to what?” Ford demanded.
Ruby flushed. “Not what you think!”
“I don’t think anything. Tell me.”
“I just feel obligated to be . . .” Ruby struggled for the words as Ford glared at her.
She saw a muscle tick in his cheek, and she knew instinctively that he was jealous.
He waited.
“To be nice.”
Ford looked across at her and nodded. “You need to tread carefully. He’s a powerful man. He doesn’t like the word no.”
“So I gathered.”
“Has he done anything?”
Ruby though
t of King’s hand on her knee, but she shook her head.
“Good. Just keep your distance. We only have five days on board ship.”
“I’ve thought of all this. I intend to do exactly that.”
“On top of which, he’s in mourning. So he must appear to be in mourning, even though he’s probably glad she’s dead.”
Ruby blanched. “Is he glad?”
“She was sick for some time. I think he was probably relieved more than glad.”
“I read about the rumors,” she lowered her voice. “About the death. That he might have had a hand in it.”
“No,” Ford disagreed. “I’ve worked for the man. He despises scandal. That’s why I was always bailing Harry, Caroline’s brother, out of one scrap or another. He wouldn’t have harmed her.”
Ruby was comforted. “Thank heaven for that. I was beginning to think my benefactor was a monster.”
“He’s not a monster. Just a man.”
“I must go. It’s getting chilly,” she said, rubbing her arms.
Ford gave her a parting glance. “Sleep well, Ruby Mae.”
Ruby turned and smiled at him. She hadn’t been called that in a while. “And you, Ford.”
They parted on deck, and Ruby moved along the passage to her room. Once inside, she sighed at the loveliness of the room that was all her own. She moved to the window to look out to the sea and turned to see flowers on the table.
She had never traveled on board a ship, let alone first class, and she was impressed with the grandeur of the room. She inhaled the scent of the blooms and saw the card lying next to them. It read: To the beginning of our journey. K.
Ruby placed the card back and closed her eyes. She wanted to forget about King and his money and his recently deceased wife and focus on London and Paris. She pushed the flowers back on the table as she pushed King from her mind.
She wore a sky-blue linen dress the next morning for breakfast. She missed her morning ritual of seeing Bessie and chatting over coffee. When she arrived at the dining saloon, Archie was sitting at one table with Greta Vadas while Lou and Zeta sat at another table.
Ruby chose grapefruit, toast, and coffee while Bessie enjoyed griddle cakes and tea. They were soon joined by Max and Vernon, who bid good morning to both ladies.
Max said little as he sipped his coffee and munched on toasted cornflakes while Vernon piled his plate high with bacon, fried eggs, and toast. He then complained about the food not being hot enough.
King and Ford entered the dining room together while everyone was finishing breakfast and making plans for the day. King nodded at Vernon and several of the performers but made a special effort to seek out Ruby.
With Ford standing next to him, he bid Ruby good morning as she smiled at both men.
“Did you like the flowers?” King asked her.
Ford’s eyes were on Ruby’s face as the table went suddenly silent. Max and Vernon looked on as Bessie carefully watched her friend.
“Yes. Thank you. They were lovely and unexpected. You shouldn’t have,” Ruby said as she looked around the table.
“Of course I should have. Beautiful flowers for a beautiful lady.” He smiled, and the two men moved away to their own table.
Ruby hadn’t liked the look King had given her, nor the way he seemed to publicly want to display his affection for her. But more than any of that, she had been mystified at the way Ford had eyed her with a mixture of intense irritation and jealousy.
14
After breakfast, Ruby and Bessie explored the ship that was to be their home for several days. They stumbled upon the library situated on the promenade deck with its folding doors of mahogany and comfortable nooks for reading or quiet conversation. There was an alcove in the room and an octagonal skylight arching to over twelve feet above them.
The ceiling had scroll ornaments and delicate decoration, which contrasted nicely with the dark mahogany of the tables and bookcases. Ruby loved the room instantly.
“It’s absolutely beautiful,” she whispered to her friend.
Every place they discovered seemed to convey a sense of luxury and elegance. She knew that she was fortunate to be on board the ship and headed to London to tour, but once again she felt the dread and apprehension mixed together with the thought of King’s generosity.
When she entered her cabin, she had only been inside a moment before a knock fell on the door. She opened the door thinking it was Bessie, but instead Ford entered.
“Ford! What is it? What are you doing here?” She peered behind him into the empty passageway.
He stepped inside her cabin, and she could see his face was set with anger.
“What is going on with you and King?” he demanded.
Ruby frowned. “What do you mean?”
He advanced toward her. “I’m a man, Ruby. I’ve seen the way he looks at you, and I hear him when he speaks to you. Hell! Even when you aren’t around, he talks about you.”
“You know I haven’t done anything to warrant his attentions. I told you I’m only humoring him.”
“So you just exist.”
“Yes.”
“I wonder that I don’t believe you,” he said softly.
“Well, that’s not my fault.”
“Would you tell me if there was something going on between you? Perhaps you want to play us both. Me for nostalgia, our past for protection, and King for money.”
“You make me sound so calculated! So conniving! I’m not like that,” she said angrily.
“So you aren’t lovers?”
“Of course not.” Ruby felt the heat of his words, and in his eyes the jealousy was plain enough.
“I can’t imagine a man like King would go to all this expense and even travel to London for what? His admiration of you?”
“I don’t pretend to know why he does what he does,” Ruby contested. “But there has been nothing between us.”
“You must be blind, Ruby. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Damn it! The whole dining room saw the way he looked at you during breakfast. He was practically stripping you naked with his eyes!”
“That isn’t so! He was merely inquiring about the flowers!”
“You must be out of your mind! He’s marking his territory.”
“I don’t care! Let him strut about like a rooster. All I want to do is get to London and perform. It’s my dream.”
“And if the price of your dream is to give yourself to King? What then?” Ford demanded.
Ruby flushed under his scrutiny. “I’ve already answered you. And what business is this of yours to ask these questions?” Ruby challenged. Ford grabbed her arm and pulled her toward him. “You aren’t my husband or my father to demand such things of me! I can do as I please!”
“You can do as you please?” he asked.
“Yes!” She thrust her little chin up to meet his gaze.
He looked down into her flushed face, and a sudden desire to hold her tightly and feel her against him rushed over him. He knew he was jealous. Painfully so. Whenever King mentioned Ruby, he wanted to smash his fist into his face.
When he sought her out to give her attention in front of everyone, he was marking his territory. It was clear enough. He was telling the entire vaudeville group that Ruby was his. It could be no plainer.
He hated King for it. He had known Ruby her entire life, and he had not taken her virginity lightly. He had wanted to do the right thing, but she had been set on her dreams of the stage. Now here they both were, far from home, and nothing was in his control. She was correct. She could do as she pleased. He had no hold over her, and he hated that feeling.
“So if King demands payment for all of this, what will happen then?” Ford asked, looking down at her.
Ruby looked away. “I don’t intend to give him anything. I could never—never do that with someone I don’t love.”
Ford felt a shiver of possession. He knew what she was saying.
“Ruby . . .” He was suddenly thinking of that nig
ht in Connecticut when he had covered her naked body with his. “Do you know what it’s like to sit through a meal and have him talk about you? Hear him praise you? Knowing all the while that I’ve been inside you. I’ve tasted you. I took your virginity.”
Ruby shook her head. She couldn’t breathe. “Don’t. You can’t speak to me this way. I’ve done nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing.”
Ford fought the desire to kiss her. He wanted to taste her lips and push himself inside her, but he wouldn’t. He was losing control. He was fighting himself and Ruby. He wanted more than he could admit, and he had not been honest with himself. He came to his senses and released her suddenly.
“Ruby.” He reached out to touch her but dropped his hand. “I’m sorry for what I said. I’m concerned for you. That’s all.”
Ruby met his eyes and nodded. “I know.”
He moved toward the door but turned back. “Just tread carefully. He has his sights set on you.”
Before dinner, Ruby and Bessie walked along the deck in the early evening air. Neither woman spoke much, and Ruby’s thoughts were a jumbled mess. She tried to focus on London and steady herself for what was to come, but she also was plagued by King’s attentions and now Ford’s strange jealousy.
She had always been in love with Ford, but he had viewed her as a child. When they had made love in Connecticut, she had been thrilled, but her plan had already been set by then.
Now they were both bound for London and tied together by another man’s will. Ford should know her better. She had no intention of giving in to King’s desire. She would not be his wife. She would not be his mistress.
But what had surprised her most that afternoon was Ford’s behavior. Ford, who was normally so calm and cool, had been completely out of control with his emotions. She didn’t understand. He had offered marriage in Connecticut because of his chivalrous sense of duty. He had never claimed to love her, but now he seemed to be acting like the jealous husband. It was odd.
The two women moved indoors and walked along the passageway toward the dining room. She had seen several of the other performers on board ship, including Lou and Zeta, who preferred each other’s company as they had long been involved.
The Vaudeville Star Page 13
